Page 72 of One Killer Night

I lean into the fan on the workroom counter because the regular air conditioner is currently being repaired. My only stroke of luck is that the flower fridges work just fine. Since it’s a balmy Boston July, I’m considering shutting myself inside one of them.

“You’re the only one there.” My sister rolls her eyes. “Are you planning to turn yourself in to HR?”

Noah deadpans for the camera from his desk at work. “She might.”

“Hey ...” I complain before the smile blooms. “Just make it quick.”

Evie laughs, then sticks her tongue out and crosses her eyes. “You’re so weird about celebrating yourself. This is huge, Go-Go.”

I hate when she calls me that because I’ll literally give in to anything she asks. It’s what she called me when she was a baby. I’m about to say “Fine” when Noah holds up his finger, sitting straighter in his chair.

“Wait. I have to patch him in.” Evie shoots him a death glare. “Stop looking at me like that, sister of the woman I love. I promised. Killer, make her stop cursing me through the phone.”

I chuckle because this is Evie’s karma. I said I didn’t want to make a big deal about my article coming out tomorrow, and like the good listener she is, her whole plan to make me go viral was born. And I bet it’s as off-putting as the bloody hand she keeps picking up to inspect before adding more red, chunky goop to it.

“Hey,” I say to my sister, motioning with my head as a blank box with a C pops up on the screen, ringing Chase. “You might want to send Ruth Bader to her chambers.”

Noah smirks as Evie’s eyes bug out of her head before she tosses a bloody cloth over the tank and tries to act cool just as Chase joins.

“The whole fam’s here.” I giggle because my sister acts like she’s queasy. But that doesn’t stop Chase. He looks at who I assume are Noah and me, saying, “Mom, Dad ...” but then he adds, “stepsis.”

“Stepsis?” she bites likes it’s the most offensive thing she’s ever heard. “What?”

Noah drops his head, shaking it, as my forehead wrinkles, confused. Until Chase nods.

“Yeah ... ‘step.’ It’d be weird if I wanted to fuck my—”

“Okay,” Noah cuts in loudly, clapping his hands together. “Behave. Our girl is a published queen, so let’s watch our mouths around royalty.”

Chase winks into the camera. Evie revs a drill. Noah continues.

“Eves, why don’t you tell us why you’ve gathered the troops. And I would make it quick because one of us has a short time limit.” He taps the watch I just bought him for his birthday. “And the other says everything that comes out of his mouth.”

I have to cover my mouth because I can’t hide my smile. Sometimes I think I should buy her a really big apology present for dropping a much hotter version of theSuperbadbromance onto her lap.

My sister stands off for a few silent seconds, glaring like she’s plotting a murder, before she gives in and lets out a deep exhale.

“Thank you, Noah. AndonlyNoah.” Chase grins wider. “I’ve gathered you here today because we have work to do so our literarygenius gets the recognition she deserves. As we know, the article comes out tomorrow—”

Clapping and hollering suddenly interrupt her flow as Noah and Chase give me a round of applause, so I do a little bow.

Evie motions her hands for them to settle down with a genuine smile on her face.

“As I was saying, she did the hard work, and now we do our part. We’re here to ensure the bigwigs atVision and Vibebuy more articles and maybe even hire her on staff. Then she can stop making subpar flower arrangements and live up to her potential.”

I lift a finger, demanding everyone’s attention. “Full transparency, that’s not how it works. I will not be offered any position, I will absolutely still be gainfully-ish employed at the flower shop. Also ... excuse you. Subpar? I’m so good at making arrangements.”

I’m met with silence before every head in the other three boxes shakes.

Oh my god.

Noah smirks. “Killer, not everyone is amazing at everything. And that’s okay ...”

Evie hums an “Mm-hmm” in agreement.

Chase shrugs. “You guys are underplaying it. G, you’re fucking awful. I figured you were related to the owner, and that’s how you kept the job.”

I’m blinking a hundred miles an hour as I stare at them.